Infusion bag, in particular for tea, label for an infusion bag and method for attaching a label to the thread of an infusion bag

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a method for attaching a label ( 5 ) to the free end ( 3   e ) of a thread ( 3 ), the other end of which is attached or attachable to an infusion bag ( 1 ), in particular for tea, wherein thread ( 3 ) having its free thread end ( 3   e ) placed on the one side of label ( 5 ) is taken by a needle penetrating label ( 5 ) and is pulled in a loop ( 3   f ) through label ( 5 ), loop ( 3   f ) is then introduced from the other side in two slits ( 5   a ) in the marginal region of label ( 5 ), such that its closed portion is again placed on the one side of label ( 5 ) and wherein the loop is afterwards tightened by pulling thread ( 3 ). The invention also relates to an infusion bag ( 1 ), in particular for tea, as well as a label ( 5 ) for an infusion bag.

[0001] The invention relates to an infusion bag, in particular for tea, at the head region of which a thread with label, which serves for handing and/or information, is attached. The invention also relates to a label for an infusion bag as well as a method for attaching a label to the thread of an infusion bag.

[0002] It is known to seal infusion bags exclusively by a thread. For this purpose, first the corners in the head region of the infusion bag are folded over and thereafter the centre part is folded over the folded corners, so that a reliable sealing of the infusion bag is obtained. This sealing is secured by a thread, which can be attached in several ways.

[0003] In a known embodiment according to the German Registered Utility Model 296 13 448 the thread applied to the head region of the infusion bag is attached by means of a separate attachment thread. Accordingly, the thread is attached to the label serving for handling and/or information by means of a separate attachment thread. This connection of the respective thread end to the infusion bag respectively the label does not resist to higher strains and requires a high processing effort.

[0004] In order to create a more simple thread attachment, it is known from EP 0 807 579 to provide the folded head region with two recesses and to place the infusion bag beside a tensed thread, such that this one runs at the height of the recesses and through each of the recesses a tuck needle can be passed, which receive the thread and pull its two ends through the recesses. The free ends of the thread passed through the recesses of the infusion bag are attached to the label, for instance by means of welding or tacking. Herein it is disadvantageous that the attachment is loose and thus insecure and it is possible that the folded areas of the head region unfold, so that the contents of the infusion bag can fall out or a loss of flavour and freshness can occur.

[0005] From EP 0 691 268 a thread sealing is furthermore known, in which a needle is passed through a single hole in the head region of the infusion bag, which needle takes up a thread placed behind it and pulls it back through the aperture while forming a loop, which is then used for making a knot. Herein it is disadvantageous that it is not granted, that the folded corners and the centre part of the head region folded there over are taken commonly and with the bag by the thread connection and are connected by the formed knot. Even with high production precision in folding, punching and passing the thread, the sealing is not sufficiently safe.

[0006] In view of this state of the art it is the object of the invention to secure a safe fixation of the label to the thread by a thread connection, which can be established with low technical effort at a high production speed.

[0007] This object is achieved at an infusion bag of the initially mentioned type in that the thread having its free thread end placed on the one side of the label is pulsed in a loop through the label and the loop is introduced from the other side into two slits in the marginal region of the label, such that its closed portion is placed on the one side of the label, the loop being tightened by pulling the thread.

[0008] The attachment of the label to the free end of the thread is carried out in a simple manner and can be realized in particular in a continuously working process with steady machine running and high piece numbers. Due to the friction forces the knot is not loosened, even under low prestress, i.e. loose tightening.

[0009] The invention also provides a label for an infusion bag, which label is attached to the thread end by a loop, which is formed by the free thread end, pulled through the label from one side and introduced in two slits in the marginal region of the label from the other side of the label, such that the closed portion of the loop is placed on the one side of the label and the loop is tightened by pulling the thread.

[0010] According to the method and for achieving the object, the thread having its free thread end placed on the one side of the label is taken by a needle penetrating the label and is pulled in a loop through the label. Afterwards, the loop is introduced from the other side in two slits in the marginal region of the label, such that its closed portion is again placed on the one side of the label. Thereafter, the lop is tightened by pulling the thread.

[0011] The invention provides a method wording with simple technical devices and high working speed for attaching a label to the free end of a thread, the other end of which is attached to an infusion bag, the method being explained in the following by reference to the drawings by means of an exemplary embodiment. In the drawing:

[0012]FIG. 1a is a perspective view of an infusion bag having folded corners and a a centre part folded there over as well as a thread seating,

[0013]FIG. 1b shows the infusion beg of FIG. 1a with an enlarged representation of the thread sealing;

[0014]FIG. 1c shows the infusion bag of FIG. 1a and 1 b in the non-finished state without thread sealing;

[0015]FIG. 1d is a schematic perspective view of an infusion bag with a label attached according to the invention;

[0016]FIGS. 2a and 2 b show a side view and a plan view of an infusion bag placed into a holding device and a thread formed into a loop;

[0017]FIGS. 3a and 3 b show a side view and a plan view, in which the needles have penetrated the infusion bag;

[0018]FIGS. 4a and 4 b show another side view and a plan view, in which the needles have been withdrawn;

[0019]FIGS. 5a and 5 b show a side view and a plan view of the bag sealed by the thread;

[0020]FIGS. 6a and 6 b show a side view and a plan view of a label and the other thread end;

[0021]FIGS. 7a and 7 b show a corresponding side view and plan view after the thread end has been pulled through;

[0022]FIGS. 8a and 8 b show a further side view and plan view, in which the thread loop has been introduced in incisions of the label; and

[0023]FIGS. 9a and 9 b show a side view and plan view of the thread attached to the label.

[0024] The infusion bag 1 represented in FIGS. 1a through 1 c is first sealed according to FIG. 1c by folding the corners 1 a and 1 b at the head region 6 and then folding the centre part 1 c over them, such that the substrate contained in the interior of the chamber, in particular tea, cannot exit. Thereafter, infusion bag 1 is provided with a thread sealing 7 according to FIGS. 2a through 9 a, the construction of which is in particular shown in FIG. 1b. For forming thread sealing 7, two holes 8 and 9, which are placed side by side with lateral distance on the left and right side of the longitudinal axis of the bag, are formed in head region 6, which respectively penetrate one folded corner 1 a or 1 b and centre part 1 c of head region 6. In order to enable this, four recesses in total are provided in head region 6 of infusion bag 1, according to FIG. 1c, with centre part 1 c not yet being folded, which recesses correspond with each other in form of a pair after folding centre part 1 c and form equiaxed penetrating holes 8 and 9.

[0025] Thread sealing 7 also comprises a thread 3, which is passed with its one end 3 b through hole 9 under formation of a loop 3 a and with its other end 3 c through the second hole 8, wherein loop 3 a is placed on the front side, as seen in the drawing, of bag 1 and ends 3 b and 3 c are placed on the back side, as seen in the drawing, of bag 1. The loop is passed over the head edge 10 of infusion bag 1 and both ends 3 b and 3 c of thread 3 are passed from below through loop 3 a. By pulling one or both ends of the thread a double-secured knot 11 is formed, which fixes the corners 1 a and 1 b as well as centre part 1 c of head region 6 in sealing position to each other and to the infusion bag.

[0026] From the drawing it can also be seen, that loop 3 a is formed by crosswise superposed thread portions, wherein the short thread end 3 b of the crosswise superposed thread portions of the loop is placed below the long thread end 3 adjacent to the bag wall.

[0027] As it is shown by FIG. 1d, a label 5 is attached to the free end 3 e of thread 3, wherein thread 3 having its free thread end 3 placed on one side of label 5 is taken by a needle penetrating label 5 and pulled in a loop 3 f through label 5, then loop 3 f is introduced from the other side in two slits 5 a in the marginal region of label 5, such that its closed portion is again placed on the one side of label 5, and wherein afterwards the loop is tightened by pulling thread 3.

[0028] For providing the described sealing, infusion bag 1 is placed with its closed head region 6 in a recess 2 a of a holding device 2, as shown by FIGS. 2a and 2 b. Before, a thread 3 in form of a loop 3 a was placed over recess 2 a of holding device 2, as it is best shown by FIG. 2b. Herein, the free end 3 b of loop 3 a is placed together with the continuous portion 3 c of thread 3 on the one side of recess 2 a, whereas the closed portion of loop 3 a rests upon holding device 2 on the other side of recess 2 a.

[0029] As it can be best seen from FIG. 2a, loop 3 a is pressed through the head edge of infusion bag 1 into recess 2 a, so that it surrounds the head edge.

[0030] According to FIGS. 3a and 3 b, two needles 4, which are drawn in FIGS. 2a and 2 b in the starting position, penetrate into the head region of the infusion bag below loop 3 a. With their barb 4 a formed on the bottom side (see FIG. 2a) they take free end 3 b, on the one hand, and continuous portion 3 c of thread 3, on the other hand, as shown by FIGS. 3a and 3 b.

[0031] When the needles 4 are now withdrawn to the starting position, as shown by FIGS. 4a and 4 b, they entrain free end 3 b, on the one hand, and a part of continuous portion 3 c of thread 3, on the other hand, as shown by FIGS. 4a and 4 b. While free end 3 b is completely pulled out of the head region of infusion bag 1, a loop 3 d has been formed in the continuous portion 3 c of the thread due to the withdrawal of the corresponding needle 4, which loop is placed below the centre part of loop 3 a. This situation is clearly represented in FIG. 4b.

[0032] For now obtaining the complete enclosure of the head region of infusion bag 1 by the ends of thread 3, which is shown in FIGS. 5a and 5 b, it is still necessary, to pull the continuous portion 3 e, namely the long thread end of thread 3, completely out of infusion bag 1. This is for instance done by further transport of infusion bag 1, such that the remaining part of continuous portion 3 c of thread 3 is completely pulled through loop 3 a. By applying a certain tensile force to the continuous portion 3 c of thread 3, the loop is finally tightened, so that the situation represented in FIGS. 5a and 5 b results.

[0033] For attaching a label 5, represented in FIGS. 6a through 9 a, to the other end of thread 3, this latter one is placed with its end 3 e dose to a side of label 5, as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6 b. Label 5 is penetrated preferably by a needle, which is in turn provided with barbs, and thread 3 is taken at its thread end 3 e. According to FIGS. 7a and 7 b, thread end 3 e is pulled through label 5 in form of a loop 3 f.

[0034] This loop 3 f is now taken and introduced into slits 5 a, as shown by FIGS. 8a and 8 b, which are formed in the marginal region of the label. The closed portion of loop 3 f is thus again placed on the same side of label 5, on which thread end 3 e and the continuous portion of thread 3 are placed. This situation is best shown in FIG. 9a.

[0035] By applying tension to thread 3, the loop around label 5 is finally tightened, so that the situation represented in FIG. 9b results.

[0036] As it appears from the preceding disclosures of both the sealing of the head region of infusion bag 1 and the attachment of a label 5 to both ends of a thread 3, in both cases a loop enclosure of infusion bag 1 or label 5 is obtained, the adherence of thread 3 being sufficient for obtaining a reliable sealing of infusion bag 1 respectively a reliable attachment of label 5.

Reference List

[0037]1 infusion bag

[0038]1 a corner

[0039]1 b corner

[0040]1 c centre part

[0041]2 holding device

[0042]2 a recess

[0043]3 thread

[0044]3 a loop

[0045]3 b free end

[0046]3 c continuous portion

[0047]3 d loop

[0048]3 e thread end

[0049]3 f loop

[0050]4 noodle

[0051]4 a barb

[0052]5 label

[0053]5 a slit

[0054]6 head region

[0055]7 thread sealing

[0056]8 hole

[0057]9 hole

[0058]10 head edge

[0059]11 knot 

1. Infusion bag (1), in particular for tea, at the head region (6) of which a thread (3) with label (5), which serves for handling and/or information, is attached, characterized in that thread (3) having its free thread end (3 e) placed on the one side of label (5) is pulled in a loop (3 f) through label (5), that loop (3 f) is introduced from the other side into two slits (5 a) in the marginal region of label (5), such that its closed portion is placed on the one side of label (5), and the loop is tightened by pulling thread (3).
 2. Label (5) for an infusion bag (1), in particular for tea, which is attached to thread (3) by a loop (3 f), which is formed by a free thread end (3 e), pulled through tab (5) from one side of label (5) and introduced in two slits (5 a) from the other side of label (5), such that the closed portion of loop (3 f) is placed on the one side of label (5) and the loop is tightened by pulling thread (3).
 3. Method for attaching a label (5) to the free end (3 e) of a thread (3), the other end of which is attached or attachable to an infusion bag (1), in particular for tea, characterized in that thread (3) having its free thread end (3 e) placed on the one side of label (5) is taken by a needle penetrating label (5) and is pulled in a loop (3 f) through lab (5), that loop (3 f) is then introduced from the other side in two slits (5 a) in the marginal region of label (5), such that its closed portion is again placed on the one side of label (5) and that the loop is afterwards tightened by pulling thread (3).
 4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the method is carried out continuously. 